News reports that the apex court had earlier reserved judgment in the matter, a development that led the opposition party to write to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), citing concerns over the electoral timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On Wednesday, the court officially announced that its decision will be delivered at 2 pm on Thursday.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier reserved judgment after all parties involved adopted their final written submissions.

The case stems from a faction of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark, which is challenging the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal that ordered all parties to maintain the existing status quo in the party’s leadership dispute.

In his appeal, Mark argued that the Court of Appeal acted beyond its jurisdiction, insisting that the matter is an internal party issue which courts have no authority to decide.

The suit was originally filed by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who are challenging the legitimacy of the David Mark-led faction.

Other respondents in the case include the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former national chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership other than his faction until the case is fully resolved.

However, the respondents have urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, insisting that the lower court properly exercised its jurisdiction in the matter.

The draw, conducted at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), placed Nigeria in the second round where they will face either Sudan or Comoros.

As Africa’s highest-ranked women’s team and reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, the Super Falcons were seeded and therefore received a bye into this stage of the qualifiers.

Their fixtures are scheduled for 5 to 13 October 2026 and will be played over two legs, home and away. The winner of the tie will progress further in the qualification series, which will ultimately produce only two African representatives for the women’s football event at the Olympic Games in the United States.

The preliminary round will see Sudan take on Comoros between 1 and 9 June 2026, with the victor advancing to face Nigeria.

The African qualification series features 35 teams competing across five knockout rounds. Notable fixtures drawn include Tunisia versus Senegal, Benin against Mali, Morocco facing Congo, Cameroon meeting Guinea, Zambia taking on Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire clashing with DR Congo.

Despite their continental dominance, Nigeria’s Olympic record has been inconsistent. The Super Falcons missed three consecutive editions from 2012 to 2020 before returning at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they were eliminated in the group stage after matches against Spain, Japan, and Brazil.

Their strongest Olympic performance remains their quarter-final finish at the 2004 Games, which is still the best result achieved by an African women’s team at the tournament.

News reports that the President has also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new head of the NMDPRA, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the decision was made “in the public interest” and in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

The statement added that the appointment of Mr Umar is aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency within the midstream and downstream petroleum sector under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

It further noted that pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official in the agency will oversee its operations in an acting capacity.

Mr Umar is described as a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, with a strong background in strategic leadership, operational reform, and large-scale project execution. He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

President Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the outgoing CEO for his service, wishing him success in his future endeavours.

The statement reaffirmed the President’s commitment to appointing capable leadership across key regulatory institutions to drive energy security, sector reforms, and sustainable economic growth.